Without Petersen, Boise State faces Oregon State in Hawaii Bowl

December 10, 2013|Reuters

The Sports Xchange

NCAAF Team Report - Oregon State - INSIDE SLANT

Two teams in need of a getaway got just that from the bowl system.

Boise State, which will play its first game without Chris Petersen on the coaching staff since the 2000 Humanitarian Bowl, is going through a coaching transition. Linebackers coach Bob Gregory will serve as interim head coach when the team takes on Oregon State in the Hawaii Bowl. Both Broncos coordinators -- Robert Prince on offense and Pete Kwiatkowski on defense -- will be there.

The last time the Broncos played in the Hawaii Bowl, in 2007 against East Carolina, they failed to show up until the second half.

Distractions will be even more prevalent this time.

"It's going to be fun over there," Gregory said. "I just can't say enough about the kids that we have in this program. I know that they're all going to do it the right way. Our kids aren't going to go over there and be distracted. They'll have time to go to the beach and have fun. When it comes time to practice and focus, they're going to do that regardless. That's what they've done all year. That's what this program is all about. I don't anticipate that being any different than the way it's been."

The Broncos will try to extend a few streaks. They have won four straight bowl games, they have beaten a Pac-12 team in five straight seasons and they have won either a conference or bowl championship 10 of the past 11 years.

"It's always important to end our career with a win and try to get that fifth ring," senior defensive end Kharyee Marshall said. "If we don't get that win, we'll feel like we let the past Broncos down and let the future Broncos who are coming in down. We're going to prepare like we usually do. We're not going to miss a beat."

The Beavers, meanwhile, lost their final five games after a 6-1 start that got them into the Top 25. They nearly upset Oregon in the regular-season finale, their best performance in weeks.

"After the Civil War, a bunch of us were talking about, 'Man, if we played like that every game, we could be special.' We all wanted a bowl game so we could go out on a high note," linebacker D.J. Alexander told The Oregonian. "I talked a few guys today and everyone's excited. Most of us have never been to Hawaii, and lots of guys have family there."

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NCAAF Team Report - Oregon State - NOTES, QUOTES

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

--Oregon State WR Brandin Cooks leads the nation with 1,670 receiving yards and ranks second with 15 touchdown catches playing in what some consider the best conference in college football this year. He'll face a Boise State defense that ranks 73rd in the nation against the pass.

--Oregon State QB Sean Mannion ranks second in the nation in passing yards with 4,403 and third with 36 touchdown passes. He led the Beavers to 35 points in the regular-season finale against Oregon.

--Boise State DE Demarcus Lawrence, a junior, may be playing his final game. He'll need to get some pressure on Mannion to disrupt the Beavers' offense. He leads the team with 10.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss.

--WR Matt Miller could have a monster day against Oregon State's porous defense. In November, he had 30 catches for 430 yards and nine touchdowns.

BOWL HISTORY: Boise State is 9-4 in bowl games and has won four straight, including back-to-back defeats of Pac-12 teams. The Broncos will make their 12th straight bowl appearance. Oregon State is 10-6 in bowl games. The Beavers missed the postseason in 2010 and 2011 and lost to Texas in 2012.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We know what it comes down to and what we're here for. We're trying to win and be successful young men on and off the field. A lot of onus comes down to the seniors and the people who have been here a while to not miss a beat and not show any weakness." -- Boise State linebacker Jonathan Brown.

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NCAAF Team Report - Oregon State - STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

BOWL BREAKDOWN

Scouting the running game: These teams have different styles. Boise State is all about balance -- the Broncos run for 201.8 yards per game, mostly thanks to sophomore star tailback Jay Ajayi (1,328 yards, 17 TDs). Oregon State barely runs the ball. The Beavers average 86 yards per game -- 118th in the nation.

Scouting the passing game: This is Oregon State's strength. Quarterback Sean Mannion and wide receiver Brandin Cooks might be the nation's most potent duo in the pass game. Four more Beavers have at least 300 receiving yards. Boise State's passing game is a bit of a mystery because it's unclear how the snaps will be split at quarterback. Senior Joe Southwick played one series on Senior Day and continues to recover from a broken ankle. Junior Grant Hedrick, who played the second half of the season, has struggled against the better defenses he has faced.